Huge, huge thanks to Overpoint65, whose review has helped me put a name to what exactly's been bothering me about this story. When a World Meeting is Productive will be going through some extensive editing over the next few months, especially in its first half, and they have generously agreed to help me out as a part-time beta. I'll indicate in the chapter title what I've edited. The update schedule will not be affected, so just keep an eye out for when I start posting the edited chapters.
Also, if you aren't already, keep a close eye on the World News tab at the end of each chapter. Along with some funny tidbits, it'll also contain some plot-relevant information that isn't included in the main chapter.
July 31, 2020
Brussels, Belgium[1]
"Okay! The hero has another awesome idea!"
Germany sighed, placing a hand on his forehead in exasperation as he nodded to America.
"The chair recognizes the United States of America," he allowed, feeling too tired to even try to protest as America waved his arm wildly like an elementary student. "What do you have this time? Another superhero to stop global warming?"
America pouted at the Germanic nation. "Dude, stop being so uptight! I give good ideas, don't I? Didn't I formulate the plan that defeated ISIS?"
"And you've also insisted that a demigod superhero with some kind of tragic backstory could stop global warming," England put in. "So forgive us if we're a bit wary. Your plans tend to go on both sides of the spectrum."
America rolled his eyes, and Germany felt an increasing sense of helplessness at the young nation's excitement. That was not a good sign. Why couldn't NATO meetings actually get something done for once?
"Well I'm the dominant superpower here so you're gonna have to listen to me whether you like it or not!" America laughed. "I have been inspired! I have new plans for the world!"
Germany groaned, facepalming. Here we go…
"What's this new plan?" England sighed. "You've always had plans."
"Have you ever heard of the advanced satellite program Project X Terra 2020?" America asked, looking extremely proud of himself.
"No," Belgium answered in England's stead. "What is that supposed to be, exactly? Some sort of satellite system?"
"Yeah!" America laughed. "See, Belgium gets it! Basically, it'll let us see the whole world with more detail than any other satellite before it. You know, so we can plan better, and stop the bad guys before they even get a foothold!"
"And who exactly will have access to this new technology?" France questioned, still looking quite bored. "If you even have the tech."
America made a noise of offense as Norway voiced his assent.
"I agree with France," the Nordic nation spoke calmly and without visible emotion. "I would not trust bror, for example, with such a weapon."
"Hey!" Denmark exclaimed, slamming a hand down on the table. "I take offense to that! I'm perfectly capable of watching over myself!"
The Norwegian nation simply rolled his eyes and started choking the poor Dane with his own tie. Iceland, on Norway's other side, looked utterly embarrassed. Germany cleared his throat awkwardly and motioned for Norway to let go of Denmark before the situation escalated, who reluctantly did as he was told.
"As for who'll have access, I was thinking just us NATO dudes," America answered France's question. "'S not like I'm gonna share this with China or the Eurasian Union. I mean, I like Yao and all, but he hasn't exactly been on good terms with me since Xinjiang and Tibet got independence, and Russia's always been a dirty commie."
"It's 'it is,' and 'going to,' America," England interrupted. "Honestly, you need to stop butchering the queen's language. I hardly know why I even bother at this point."
America stuck out his tongue at his former older brother.
"Aw, you guys!" Italy spoke up, his usual closed-eye and cheerful grin plastered all over his face. "Stop fighting and eat pasta instead!"
"You're an idiot, Veneziano," Romano scowled, causing his younger brother to pout.
"Let's just get this done as soon as possible," Germany cut in. "America, I trust you'll tell us when your project—whatever it's called—is done?"
"It's Project X Terra 2020," Alfred corrected. "And duh, I will! The hero always has to keep his sidekicks and backup updated, or else he wouldn't be a hero! And I'm the hero!"
France groaned, and Germany quickly spoke up again, changing the subject to the next topic on the agenda—the Libyan states and their instability—before a fight broke out in the conference room… again.
August 7, 2020
Mogadishu, Somalia
"SOMALIA!"
Rihana Tesfa jumped, several papers flying out of her grasp as she did so. Turning around in a flash, the east African country narrowed her eyes and released a slew of curse words in Somali. Putting on a (very forced) smile, she looked up to see her two elder brothers entering her office, her door nearly off of its hinges from the force it had been opened with.
"What have I told you about seeing me?" Rihana sighed, sounding falsely pleasant. "You give me a headache, my brothers, and I thought I told you never to come in my presence again."
"Very funny, Somalia."
Rihana rolled her eyes. Of course her brothers would decide to come to her in a crisis like this.
The nation nearest to her was her elder brother, Ethiopia. He was uncharacteristically livid, his usually peaceable features morphed with rage. He had long, dark brown hair in a low ponytail, and was wearing his usual tan military uniform.
Just over his shoulder was Ethiopia's older fraternal twin, Abyssinia. He held his hair loose, unlike his younger brother, and in dreadlocks. His face was completely emotionless as usual, and unlike his brother, he wore his usual day-to-day clothes, a baggy white shirt with a golden stripe down the middle and black slacks. He looked quite bored, and was relaxed, hands in his pockets.
"This is all your fault, after all," Ethiopia continued, and Somalia rolled her eyes again. She seemed to do that a lot while in the presence of her family. Straightening herself, the 23-year-old nation put on a face of relative innocence, hiding a pang of fear in her stomach.
"What are you talking about?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't do anything."
Except for a certain little problem… her mind whispered.
But that isn't my fault, she shot back internally. I have no control over this!
"Does my government know you're here?" She said instead, trying to project a false sense of calm around her, and discreetly swept her eyes around her office, noting that her second-story window was unlocked. If worst came to worst, she could always try to run.
"No," Abyssinia replied. Ethiopia shot a glare at his elder brother.
"You're not helping," he hissed, and Somalia frowned. So the brothers were not united. That could be something to exploit, but then again, Ethiopia was extremely difficult to calm down when he went into one of his rages. Knowing Abyssinia, he had probably come to make sure his younger brother didn't get himself hurt. Or something. After World War 2, it had become practically impossible to be able to read her eldest brother, even after knowing him for over two millennia.
"You shouldn't have done that!" Merille exclaimed. "I told you! Now your country is dying off, and your creation is crossing my borders! What the hell?!"
Somalia gritted her teeth. So he had found out after all. This wasn't good. She would have to contact her minister of defense, get their reserves ready. The chance of war between them had just shot up tenfold and she was not ready with all the other crap going on in her country.
It had all started several years ago, soon after the defeat of ISIS. Somalia had been struck with a devastating drought. Despite humanitarian aid from other countries, it just wasn't enough, and by 2017, almost half of her country was dying and she was on the edge of declaring a national famine[2]. Finally, the long-awaited rain had come, but it was too late for a large portion of her population, who died of dehydration and starvation. And in 2018, her people had begun to die of a relatively new strain of cholera that came with the rain. Her government—what was left of it, anyway—had invested whatever was available in developing a cure in conjunction with the CDC and the World Health Organization, but the process had been painfully slow, and somehow, three months ago, the "cure," still deadly to all human life, somehow escaped from the lab and had begun to spread, eventually spreading throughout several border towns close to the Ethiopian border. The "cure" had soon transformed itself into a virus, and began to run rampant throughout her country.
"You can't talk to me like this," Somalia hissed, clenching her fists. "I am doing all I can. You're just going to have to deal with the consequences!"
"Well, you should be able to take care of your own country!" Ethiopia shot back, his eyebrows scrunched together.
"And you yours! I have been suffering for almost five years, and I am not dealing with your spoiled demands!" Somalia roared, drawing herself up to her full height, only two inches shorter than Ethiopia was himself.
"Then maybe your people need a change of leadership," Ethiopia said, his voice drawing down into a malicious whisper. "After all, you aren't doing such a good job, aren't you?"
The pang of fear grew into a cold pit in Somalia's stomach, and she dug her fingernails into her skin to stop her hands from trembling. "You wouldn't dare. The African Union will not stand for this. It's against their policies[3]!"
"The African Union?! Don't make me laugh. They're just as useless as the United Nations." Ethiopia's face seemed to calm slightly, shocking Somalia. "You could just give up, you know. You would be happier with me. I'll help your food crisis and keep your people from dying from this virus. I know you wouldn't like it, but it'd keep your citizens safer and happier. I will become your ruler, and solve this crisis."
Somalia sighed, biting her lip. As much as she hated to admit it, the offer was tempting. To not wake up wondering what she'd be able to eat. To not live in the fear of collapsing from fatigue.
But Ethiopia can't help you with that, a voice whispered in the back of her head. He's only trying to take you down the easy way. He won't help you. He just came in screaming at you, for heaven's sake!
"Never," Somalia found herself murmuring, and Ethiopia shrugged, looking regretful.
"The hard way it is, then," he sighed. "If you are bent on making sure people die in this then I won't stop this war from happening."
Ethiopia turned on his heel abruptly, and Abyssinia followed his brother silently, not even sparing a glance at his younger sister. Abruptly, Ethiopia paused at the doorway, and sent a glance back at Somalia.
"I suggest you get your armies ready," he remarked, looking resigned. At least he had calmed down from his rage, Somalia noted. Was he really going to go through with this? Possibly killing his sister as he did so? She shook her head, trying to banish the treacherous thoughts. When had Ethiopia ever cared about her?
So caught up her internal conflict, she barely caught the rest of her brother's comment.
"I won't hold back on you just because I care for you."
And with that, Merille Tesfa left the office, Ezana right on his heels, leaving Somalia to reflect on her country and wonder just how she was going to survive this.
March 16, 2021
Tripoli, Tripolitania
Lovino sighed, straightening his suit as he walked through the hallways of the capital building. Next to him, his younger brother, Feliciano, was uncharacteristically silent, his ADHD[4] expressing itself through quiet fidgetings and humming instead of its usual, well, Veneziano-ness. Honestly, the Southern Italian was quite relieved. He loved his brother—no matter how annoying he was and how often he had to hit Feliciano over the head to get him to shut up—but he was so exhausting. Usually, Lovino would've left him at home to paint or make pasta or something, but today was important, and as much as Lovino didn't like it, Feli was going to have to come for the day.
Feliciano hadn't liked it much, either. The two had a steady balance with the rule of their country: Lovino usually took care of international affairs and politics, while Feliciano managed the economy and trade. However, today was different.
After all, it took both of the personifications to declare war on another country.
The pair was currently walking through the halls of the Capitol building of Tripoli, the capital of the young nation of Tripolitania, which resided in the northeastern region of what used to be the country of Libya. The nation had split three years earlier into three separate states: Tripolitania, Fezzan to the southwest, and Cyrenaica holding most of the east.
Normally, the Italian brothers would've trusted their former colony to sort out his own mess, but most of Libya's main export, oil and natural gas, went to his former bosses. After the country had collapsed into civil war, the oil industry had fallen with it. Libya had become too sick for the brothers to even consider trying to reopen trade, and it was difficult trying to find a new source of oil, with other powers (especially America, China, and India[6]) far outclassing them with their imports and willingness to pay quite a bit of money to get what they wanted.
With no oil, Italy's economy had begun to flounder, making for a very pissed Lovino.
Well, it was obvious that this point, Libya couldn't care for himself and was dragging others into this mess. That was cause enough to intervene, at least to the extent that by the time the UN got around to doing anything, the war would be over and Libya annexed.
"Fratello, how long do you think this meeting will be? I have to be home in time to make pasta tonight."
Lovino deadpanned his younger brother, the northerner simply humming to himself, and the Italian facepalmed.
"You're an idiot, Fratellino," he sighed, before waving his hands about. "It depends how long the bastardos will fight back."
"Well, I hope we will win! It would be nice to win a war for once[6], wouldn't it, Fratello? Maybe we wouldn't be labelled such cowards!"
Lovino sent his brother a glare as Feliciano either spaced out or simply ignored his elder brother's irritation. He tended to do that a lot. Determined to catch Feliciano's attention, Lovino socked him in the arm.
Feliciano yelped and rubbed the place where he was hit, sent a wounded look to his brother, and then stuck out his tongue childishly. Lovino growled and Italy only rolled his eyes, a silent argument raging between the Italians.
Finally, Veneziano pouted and stuck out his bottom lip, giving in to his older brother. Romano smirked, relishing the victory.
This didn't last long, however, as the personifications of the Republic of Italy came to their destination, a conference room at the end of the hallway. Walking through the double doors, Romano put on a serious expression and drew himself up, ready to begin the meeting.
Sitting on the other side of the table was a mess of a man. Libya's usually wavy hair stuck up in multiple directions, and there were bags under his eyes as he looked up to nod silently at the brothers. The dark-skinned African was completely covered in bandages, and his green eyes held a sense of unfathomable weariness that only representing three warring countries could do.
"Ciao, Ahmed," Veneziano waved, sitting down with a large grin plastered on his face. Romano sat down beside his brother without a word. "How are you doing?" The north Italian began to babble without waiting for a response. "I'm doing fantastico. I've made a new painting of your coastline since I heard about your troubles. I hope you will be feeling better soon—you'll need to come and look at it sometime, I hope I got it right. Ooh! We should get all of the old colonies together! We could make pasta and sing and—"
Romano smacked Veneziano upside the head.
"Focus, fratellino," he scolded, then turned to Libya. "Where are your politicians? I thought we'd be talking to them."
The North African nation shrugged and folded his arms, looking quite satisfied with himself. "I have no idea. I never told them we were meeting."
Romano blinked, and then smirked. "I never knew you had it in you to something like this. Go to war without telling your governments? They won't be happy about that."
Libya frowned. "Do you know how hard it is to represent three different governments at the same time, all while they are all fighting each other? It's torture. I have constant migraines, injuries keep on popping up every other day, and Algeria and Egypt certainly aren't helping. If you two aren't going to annex me, they will, and it won't be pretty. At least I can expect some form of help from you two. The fact that you have good healthcare is also appealing. That unnamed virus that got Ethiopia to annex Somalia? It's come here, too. It's ripping through Africa; at this point I need all the help I can get before it comes full-force."
Romano blinked, then turned to glance at Veneziano, who looked utterly lost. The former rubbed his nose, exasperated. Of course he couldn't rely on his younger brother. He was utterly useless. Finally, he looked back at Libya.
"So should we expect resistance?" He asked. "It wouldn't be too bad if you went down without a fight[7]."
"Oh, there'll be resistance, all right," came the reply. "But it'll be disjointed and uncoordinated at best. Just ignore all the prissy politicians screaming at you and you'll be fine."
"Well I deal with the Potato bastard every meeting, so this'll be easy," Romano sighed, cracking his neck. "All this has been exhausting. I trust we'll be seeing you at our house by the end of the month, Ahmed?"
"I couldn't agree more. I am more than ready for a break from this nation stuff. I really don't see how you world powers can handle it."
"Trust me, I've wanted to kill all of those idiotas since as long as I can remember. At least you only have two countries breathing down your neck 24/7."
Libya laughed, a pitiful rasp that shook his shoulders, and Romano stood up. "Come on, Veneziano, we can go now."
Veneziano grinned in delight, jumping up from his chair. "Ve, does that mean we can have pasta tonight, fratello?"
"Sure, whatever."
"PASTA!"
And with that, the Italian sprinted out of the room, hands up in the air, most likely to rush back home and scare the living daylights out of at least three people while flirting with whatever girls he could find.
Romano facepalmed as Libya smiled weakly.
"You have your hands full with that one," he remarked.
Romano groaned.
"You have no idea."
[1]- First this was in New York, then when I decided the POV would be Germany, I decided on Berlin. However, research (Wikipedia) tells me that the NATO headquarters are actually in Brussels, Belgium, so…
[2]- By the way, this is actually happening right now (at least when this is being written, in 2017). According to WHO, 6.2 million Somalis are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Wow, and I had never heard of this before.
[3]- One of the objectives of the African Union is "to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States."
[4]- A personal headcanon of mine. Just watch the series and you'll see it. This is coming from someone who has ADHD; it's really obvious when you realize how hyperactive and inattentive he is. I think he only has ADHD, not ADD; ADD doesn't include the hyperactivity part.
[5]- With Japan and South Korea close behind.
[6]- Ironically, Italy has lost only 2 of the 29 wars it has participated in as a united nation, 3 (including WW2—half of Italy was fighting for the Allies by the end of it, after all) finishing inconclusive, and the rest solid victories. I wonder where they got the 'pathetic and weak' stereotype from…? Here, Feliciano is showing a rare streak of sarcasm.
[7]- I've just realized that Italy and Romano, as well as several other Hetalia characters, may seem OOC. That's because VoidViper has his own characters and personalities for the countries in his YouTube series, and it's difficult to balance both personalities out within the storyline. Apologies in advance.
World News (July 31, 2020 to February 21, 2022):
1) USA is inspired by spiders on the National Geographic Channel to create new weapons based on it.
2) Canada introduces a new currency that is harder to counterfeit.
3) The Tokyo, Japan 2020 Olympics end. The USA wins the most gold medals.
4) China and South Korea discuss whether to unite Korea into one country again.
5) China continues to ban passports for religious minorities.
6) Idea of a man walking in hell in Turkmenistan is becoming more popular.
7) The unemployment rate in North America increases.
8) A new virus is discovered in Somalia by the World Health Organization
9) Ethiopia takes action against Somalia, blaming them for the virus and initiating the Ethiopian-Somali Disease War.
10) Nations are afraid of this unknown virus, and are beginning to look into the matter.
11) East Ukraine is collapsing due to an overwhelming majority of the population wanting to join Russia
12) China implements sponge cities to avoid floods
13) India and Nepal's relations worsen due to conflicts over fossil fuels
14) Italy's attempt to stabilize and reunite itself with Libya is ongoing
15) Italy announces that it will occupy Libya until the disease crisis is stabilized
16) People in divided Libya are not getting along, making them an easy target
17) Italy starts chasing rebels that are trying to escape to Algeria
18) Italy annexes Libya and starts an antiviral plan
